Almost $400,000 worth of drugs have been seized by Queensland Police at a secretive music event near a small town in the state’s South Burnett Region.
Police launched a special operation to “ensure community safety” after receiving information regarding a large gathering on a rural block of land at Googa Creek from June 22 to 25.
Officers were particularly concerned of the circumstances should an emergency arise, given the secrecy surrounding the event, and subsequently charged 53 people over the four days.
In a video shared by police, bodycam footage shows two officers deploying a sniffer dog that signalled for a drawer in the back of a white van to be checked.
Inside, police say they found a “quantity of cash, quantity of crystal substance … located in the top drawer” in the rear of the vehicle.
Throughout Operation Googa Creek police seized $160,000 worth of ketamine, $127,000 worth of MDMA as well as cannabis, LSD, cocaine and more than $12,000 cash.
Fifty-three people were arrested or given notices to appear on 110 charges, while roadside breath tests returned three positive results and 331 negatives.
Roadside drug tests returned 60 negative results and 12 positive, while 39 traffic infringement notices were issued.
Of those arrested was a 35-year-old Victorian man, who was charged with 13 offences, including supplying dangerous drugs and obstructing police.
He appeared before Kingaroy Magistrates Court on June 26 and will reappear on December 14.
A 39-year-old Toowoomba man was also arrested and charged with nine offences, including supplying dangerous drugs and possessing property obtained from supply of trafficking.
He appeared before Toowoomba Magistrates Court on June 26 and will reappear at a later date.
A 27-year-old Wurtulla man was arrested and charged with driving under the influence and will appear before the Nanango Magistrates Court on July 15.
Inspector Scott Stahlhut said police in the region would “continue to focus on illicit drug activity and target those driving on our roads under the influence of drugs or liquor”.
Police investigations into the alleged sale of liquor, supply and distribution of dangerous drugs and other offences are ongoing.